Editor's note: Barry and Barre Wright of Callawassie Island are not only doctors, but world travelers. They are regular contributors to Bluffton Today.

Peter Romanov was 10 years old when he and his sickly half-brother were appointed co-tsars after the death of their father, Tsar Alexis I. Their ambitious sister Sophia, however, successfully conspired to seize power and in her rule of Russia as regent promptly banished Peter from court. By all accounts, Peter was a bright and curious boy, and while living in Moscow's countryside he worked as an apprentice in the construction trades. At the time of his accession at age 22, the young tsar had become an accomplished carpenter, printer, designer and shipbuilder as well as a keen observer of socioeconomic conditions.

Power and ports

In the 17th and 18th centuries, wars were fought for control of land. Without access to ports on the Black and Baltic seas, trade with the West was impossible for Russia. Journeymen convinced the tsar that modernization and reforms of Russia's feudal society required implementation of Western technology and during the early years of his reign, Peter traveled through Europe and returned home to successfully drive out invaders. In 1703, while warring with Sweden, Peter began construction of a new northern capital and nine years later he relocated his empire's capital from Moscow north 400 miles to St. Petersburg.

Versailles

With victory over the Swedes and viable ports on the Baltic Sea assured, the tsar returned to France and Chateau de Versailles in 1717, 20 years after his first visit. The Court of Versailles was a center of political power and the symbol of absolute monarchy, but it was the incredible grandeur and beauty of its French baroque architecture and formal gardens featuring parterres and fountains that made it one of the most famous and desirable palace-and-park complexes of the late 17th Century. For an entire summer Peter lived at the Grand Trianon while studying and refining his sketches of Versailles and he returned to Russia with detailed plans to build his own equally spectacular summer palace.

The tsar chose to build Peterhof, his "Russian Versailles," high on a natural ridge overlooking the Gulf of Finland, 18 miles southwest of St. Petersburg. Peter imported leading European architects and builders to create Peterhof and employed thousands more laborers to dig canals, create gardens and install water features and fountains around his 1,500-acre palace -and-park complex. The centerpiece of Peterhof is the perfectly portioned and majestic three story white and yellow Grand Palace which has, except for the richly gilded cupolas on the matching white wing pavilions, minimal exterior decoration. Although much of the interior was destroyed during World War II, some of the palace's interior Russian baroque features have been faithfully reconstructed. Opulent high relief decorations and gilded ornamentation on the State Staircase give the visitor a feeling of resplendence and delicious anticipation at being admitted to the Great Audience Hall. Much like Versailles' Hall of Mirrors, the dazzling ballroom in which 3,000 guests could be regaled at one time features a double row of mirrors that reflect the arcaded windows which overlook formal English gardens. The table in the White Dining Room is elegantly set with original pieces of the banquet service from the Imperial Porcelain Factory. The fabulous Throne Room with its oil painting of Catherine the Great sitting astride her favorite white Arabian, and portions of the Portrait Gallery and Peter's Oak Study can also be visited.

The defining jewels of The Peterhof palace-and-park complex are its dynamic water features. Russian hydraulic engineer Tuvolkov was hired by the tsar to develop a water supply and delivery system from subterranean springs 12 miles north of Peterhof and through his complex series of sluices, pipes and holding ponds sufficient water flows under its own pressure and by gravity to power all 150 fountains and four cascades 10 hours each day during warm weather. The Great Cascade begins at the plaza of the palace entrance. One of the most beautiful and famous water ensembles in the world, the Great Cascade has two seven step cascades which flank the central 3 step waterfall that flows over the Lower Grotto. With 17 waterfalls and 142 water jets streaming among the 39 allegorical gilded statues and sculptures, the water looks like a glistening liquid monument. In the pool at the base of the Great Cascade is the enormous sculptural fountain of "Samson Tearing Open the Jaws of the Lion," a memorial to Russia's victory over Sweden.

Water flows from the pool on out past the 22 fountains lining the Sea Canal to the Gulf of Finland. The Sea Canal symmetrically divides the 200 acres of the Lower Park in which are located pavilions, parterres, and fountains set in classical 18th Century garden design. Trick fountains designed to amuse the royal children by randomly gushing water and drenching unsuspecting passers-by continue to delight visitors.

Peterhof has been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is open to the public from May through October. The complex is an extremely popular spot for festivals and a favorite European travel destination, so it is wise to purchase admission tickets in advance. On warm and sunny days the hydrofoil operating on the Neva River between St. Petersburg and Peterhof is wonderful way to experience the very route taken the tsar's guests.

One of the rewards of working in international health is being assigned to so many wonderful parts of the world. We’ve had had three professional assignments in St. Petersburg, as well as three personal holidays there. It’s one of our favorite places and we have always extravagantly admired excellence in nearly all forms, and the people of St. Petersburg surely excel in the arts. If you’re a history buff, you’ll remember that nearly one million Russians were starved to death during the 900-day Siege of Leningrad in World War II, and almost all of the areas’ cultural treasures were deliberately destroyed. Ordinary citizens tried to save whatever they could in wartime, and then found the courage to rebuild and restore.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for
following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and
comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are
automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some
comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules,
click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

Comments are welcome, so long as they are civil. A Facebook account is required. Abuse may result in the commenter being permanently blocked. Personal attacks are strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to remove any comments at any time.